“Aids to Prayer 


For the Christian People of Worth 
Fmerica in view of all tbat is 
involved in the present wat 


The situation occasioned by the Great War presents 
the largest and most insistent call to intercession which 
has ever come to the Christian people of America. 
The highest office of friendship is to help’ our friends 
in the deepest things of life, and the deepest things of 
life are those which have to do with preserving a right 
relation between man and God and between man and 
man. Among the different ways of helping in the 
present world crisis, there is none which will compare 
in vital importance with that of wielding the force of 
prayer. 


To serve as a reminder of this solemn and pressing 
duty and privilege, as well as to promote definiteness, 
intensity and reality in intercession, this prayer cycle 
has been issued for the use of individuals and groups. 


The cultivation of the habit of reflection on the 
character, wishes and resources of God will establish 
confidence in Him, lead to a better understanding of 
His will, and help to ensure effective prayer. 


“The primary need is that individual Christians 
should learn to pray. If this work is to be taken 
seriously, the hour of prayer must be definitely set 
apart and jealously guarded in spite of weariness and 
many distractions.” 


cy 
yal 
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Sunday 
My Own Attitude 


In the light of what is true and with the illumina- 
tion of God’s Holy Spirit, let me consider with 
honesty and thoroughness: 


Wherein my own patriotism has been tainted by 
national glorification, suspicion, illwill, or 
any manifestation of a selfish or unbrotherly 
spirit. 


Wherein I have been blinded by tradition or 
popular opinion to the moral and spiritual 
evil in warfare. 


Wherein I have failed to exert my influence, 
however limited, in favor of basing interna- 
tional relationships upon righteousness and 
goodwill. 


Wherein I have failed to show the love of Christ 
in discharging my social, business, and polit- 
ical responsibilities and in fulfilling my 
personal obligations to those of other nations 
and races. 


Let me confess my sins and shortcomings to my 
merciful Heavenly Father, in whom all men 
are brothers, and seek His full forgiveness. 


Let me give my life with new obedience and 
daring faith to praying as my Lord commands: 
Our Father, Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be 
done on earth as it is in heaven. 


se 
TRUE PRAYER . . »« HAS NOT ONLY THOUGHT BUT WILL IN IT. 
+ « PRAYER IS NOT A FRAME OF MIND, BUT A GREAT ENERGY.’’ 


of 
IF YE ABIDE IN ME AND MY WORDS ABIDE IN YOU, ASK 
WHATSOEVER YE WILL.’' 


Monday 


For International Justice and Goodwill 


That all who mould public opinion or have author- 
ity in the warring nations may be purged of 
every evil motive, endowed with clear and 
balanced minds, given the needed courage and 
humility to uphold what is right and follow what 
is true, and be restrained from whatever would 
hinder the early establishment of a lasting 
peace. 


That those in positions of influence or power in 
neutral nations may be given an impartial, un- 
selfish and righteous attitude towards the nations 
in mortal combat, and may be alert and wise 
to seize every opportunity for promoting a new 
international understanding founded on principles 
of co-operation and justice. 


That the All-Wise God may so order and dispose 
the issues of this war as to transcend the evil 
with good, and unite the nations of the world in 
a firmer fellowship for the good of all mankind. 


That among all peoples an increasing multitude of 
earnest souls may meet face to face with God, 
to fulfill persistently the exacting conditions 
of effective prayer, so that their faith may 
prevent otherwise devastating failure, and bring 
a transforming Gospel to nations in transition. 


oe 
NOTHING GIVES PERSONALITY LIKE TRUE PRAYER. NOTHING 


MAKES MAN SO ORIGINAL .. . IT PLACES A MAN IN DIRECT 
AND EFFECTIVE CONTACT WITH . . . THE SOURCE OF ORIG- 


INALITY.’* 
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IF ANY MAN IS {N CHRIST, THERE 1S A NEW CREATION.’’ 


Tuesday 
For Those Who Are Fighting 


That the soldiers and sailors engaged in the present 
conflict may be kept from yielding to lust, vain- 
glory, revenge, or other unholy passion, and that 
in the midst of peril they may be bold through 
life or death to put their trust in God. 


That the wounded and sick may be given succor 
and relief and be endued with grace, each ac- 
cording to his need, and that by the very dis- 
cipline of suffering they may be taught a fuller 
Obedience to the loving will of their Heavenly 
Father. 


That those who are dying may be prepared in heart 
for higher service in the life eternal and be given 
unfaltering faith in Him who can lead them 
safely through the valley of the shadow of death; 
and that they may be able in quiet confidence 
to entrust all their loved ones to the tender 
care of the Good Shepherd, the Divine Comforter, 
the Heavenly King. 


That those who minister to the physical or spiritual 
needs of the sick and wounded may manifest 
more and more of the sympathy, skill and faith- 
fulness of Christ Himself. 


“iT PASSES COMPREHENSION HOW SOME MEN CAN EXPECT 
TO BELIEVE IN INTERCESSION AS THE MIGHTIEST FORCE WIELDED 
ON EARTH, IN VIEW OF WHAT THEY TOLERATE WITHIN THE 
CHAMBERS OF THEIR IMAGERY, IN THEIR MOTIVE LIFE, IN THEIR 
ATTITUDE AND SPIRIT TOWARD OTHERS---NOT TO MENTION OUT- 
BREAKING SINS AND PRACTICES.,'* 


ee 
YE ASK AND RECEIVE NOT, BECAUSE YE ASK AMIiSS.° 


Wednesday 
For All Affected by the War 


That those who are bound by ties of blood or friend- 
ship to the men in the fighting forces may cast 
all their cares upon Jesus Christ, and be brought 
through the fellowship of His suffering to give 
themselves with abandon to praying and working 
for a civilization that shall realize His vision. 


That all who through this war are brought to poverty 
or hunger may feel the nearness of the Great 
Burden-bearer, and that those who have the 
comforts of life may be led in the spirit of Christ 
to provide effective relief. 


That all who are affected by this war may be 
aroused to deeper convictions concerning the 
increasing interdependence of all peoples and 
the fundamental wisdom of closer co-operation 
and fellowship. 


That they may realize as never before that through 
Christ alone can races and nations come into 
right relations with one another, and may 
devote themselves to accomplishing His all- 
sufficient program for the world. 


“Jesus CHRIST ... HAS SET FOR EVERMORE IN HUMAN 
THOUGHT , . . THE VISION OF A CIVILIZATION IN WHICH EACH 
MAN IN EVERY NATION SHALL WISH FOR ALL MEN IN ALL NATIONS 
SUCH A FAIR CHANCE AT ALL GOOD THINGS AS A MAN WOULD 
LIKE HIS BROTHER TO HAVE,’?’ 


ee 
SAY, OUR FATHER, , » THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH 
AS iT IS IN HEAVEN,’* 


Thursday 
For Christians Everywhere 


That the hearts of Christian people may be lifted 
above all tumult and strife to God in His 
majesty and love, and that through this time 
of stress the bonds which unite those who are 
in Christ may be maintained unbroken. 


That in the flerceness of this uprising of brother 
against brother Christians may not deny their 
Lord, but may seek more earnestly to reincar- 
nate His spirit in their daily living. 


That they may therefore be always alert to minister 
to the needs of others, without regard to 
nationality, and to obey in every way their 
Saviour’s new commandment of love. 


That the present experiences may convince Chris- 
tians everywhere of the sins which make war 
possible, may impress upon them the wide range 
of their civic and political responsibilities, and 
may arouse them to living faith and unremitting 
labor for the fulfillment in business, in society, 
and in government of their Master’s purpose. 


That they may be especially eager and wise to lead 
those who are tempted, perplexed or discouraged 
to the source of strength, wisdom and hope in 
Jesus Christ, our Lord. 


ee 
OUR PRAYER MUST NOT BE A VAGUE APPEAL TO HIS MERCY, 
AN INDEFINITE CRY FOR BLESSING, BUT THE DISTINCT EXPRESSION 
OF A DEFINITE NEED.'* 


ee 
JESUS SAID, WHAT WILT THOU THAT 1! SHOULD DO UNTO 
THEE.** 


Friday 
For Christian Work Throughout the World 


That non-Christian peoples may be able to distin- 
guish between certain motives which lead to war 
and the unselfish purpose of the Prince of Peace, 
and, by the very tragedy of what is at variance 
with His will, may be impelled to seek first His 
Kingdom and His righteousness. 


That the apparent success of war, which tends 
to increase materialism and infidelity, may 
be so justly estimated as to constrain men to 
forsake their blind worship of mere force, how- 
ever disguised, and to put their real reliance 
upon those spiritual forces on which Jesus Christ 
would have all men depend. 


That all missionaries and Christian workers may 
be granted, in this time of anxiety and suffer- 
ing, an unfaltering faith in God and in His all- 
embracing plan, and may sanctify themselves 
anew for Christ-like service in the difficulties 
and opportunities which challenge their faith. 


That the leaders of the Church, both ministers and 
laymen, by the utter extremity of the world’s 
need and of human insufficiency, may be brought 
to a fuller understanding of their Father’s will, 
and in unity of faith may lead His Church to 
make available the unused wealth of His ex- 
haustless resources. 


ae 
WHEN THE CHURCH SETS ITSELF TO PRAY WITH THE SAME 
SERIOUSNESS AND STRENGTH OF PURPOSE THAT IT HAS DEVOTED 
TO OTHER FORMS OF CHRISTIAN EFFORT, IT WILL SEE THE 
KINGDOM OF GOD COME WITH POWER.’’ 
“ 


THE SUPPLICATION OF A RIGHTEOUS MAN AVAILETH MUCH 
N ITS WORKING,’ 


Saturday 
For the Missionary Spirit 


That by the self-sacrificing loyalty of millions to 
their country, Christian people everywhere may 
be inspired with complete devotion to undertake 
the spiritual conquest of the world for Christ, and 
to win, wherever the advance of His Kingdom 
falters, the victories that wait for reinforcements. 


That those who are fitted in mind and heart for 
Christian leadership may be preserved amid the 
perils of war and disciplined by its hardships 
for a more faithful and effective service in the 
cause of Christ. 


That schools, colleges and universities may be 
cleansed of all that is contrary to faith and 
morals, and may inculcate in their students those 
Christian principles on which the only enduring 
civilizations of the future must be built. 


That the officers and members of all churches and 
Christian organizations may so exert their 
influence in prayer and personal dealing and 
so manifest the spirit of their Master in the 
present crisis as to lead many others also to 
dedicate their lives to the establishment of His 
Kingdom of brotherly love. 


ae 
PRAYER IS FOR THE RELIGIOUS LIFE WHAT ORIGINAL RESEARCH 
iS FOR SCIENCE---BY IT WE GET DIRECT CONTACT WITH REALITY.** 
ef 


ASK . . . SEEK . . . KNOCK," 


Copies of this leaflet may be had at twenty cents 
per dozen, or $1.00 per hundred, postpaid, from The 
Missionary Education Movement, 156 Fifth Avenue, 
New York;—also ‘‘Intercessors, the Primary Need,” 
by Dr. John R. Mott (eighty cents per dozen, $5.00 
per hundred), and “Can Prayer Accomplish Anything 
Apart from the Man Who Prays,” by Dean E. I. 
Bosworth (twenty-five cents per dozen). 


